New report: An inclusive economy is essential for all Washingtonians, our economy, and the future progress of our statehttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-report-an-inclusive-economy-is-essential-for-all-washingtonians-our-economy-and-the-future-progress-of-our-state-1
<p>Washington is poised for great economic progress. By many measures, a better future for all people in our state is within our grasp. And yet, economic growth is not reaching all Washingtonians. There are persistent and deep disparities based on race, ethnicity, nativity, class, and geography across every measure of economic progress. Progress is meaningful only if it’s felt by everyone and prosperity is shared by all Washingtonians. To create real progress, our state must have an inclusive economy in which everyone, especially people with low incomes and people of color, can participate in growth and benefit from it. Those are the primary findings of our “<a class="external-link" href="../building-an-inclusive-economy/pdf_version">Building an Inclusive Economy” report</a>&nbsp;(the first in our <em>Progress in Washington 2018</em> series of reports).</p>
<p><img class="image-right" src="/images/Buildinganinclusiveeconomycarousel.jpg/image_mini" alt="Inclusive Economy carousel" />Shared economic prosperity is one of the best measures of how our state and country are progressing, but economic growth has not been broadly shared in our state. Gains in income have been concentrated at the top while wages for low- and middle-income people have stagnated or declined. This rise in inequality is the result of many state and federal policy and budget decisions by legislators that have negatively impacted certain Washington state residents. Decades of regressive taxation, deregulation, privatization, cuts to the safety net, as well as the decline of collective bargaining have all played a role in rising inequality.</p>
<p>Washington state’s own <a class="external-link" href="washington-state2019s-upside-down-tax-system-takes-a-heavy-toll-on-communities-of-color">upside-down tax code</a> has contributed to the problem. Hardworking families in our state pay as much as seven times more than the wealthiest pay while corporations and the ultra-wealthy benefit from unnecessary tax breaks, making it hard for our state to have the revenue it needs to invest in the foundations that serve us all, such as great schools, quality health care, and other public priorities that make Washington a great place to live. Policymakers must fix our broken tax code. Doing so will allow our state budget to have sustainable sources of revenue to build an inclusive economy and to invest equitably in our communities in the short and long term.</p>
<p><strong>Prosperity should be within reach of all Washingtonians</strong><br />Making sure all Washingtonians have access to opportunity and resources is essential to ensuring prosperity is within reach of all residents. Across many indicators of economic progress, the data show that people with low incomes and people of color are starting off on unequal footing and are facing greater barriers in large part because of the impact of harmful historical housing, economic development, and financial policies. As Washington grows more racially and ethnically diverse, the future well-being of all of us hinges upon erasing the deep and pervasive racial imbalances that exist across these measures. By 2050, our state population will be majority people of color. Washington state’s young people are already at the forefront of this demographic transformation. Forty-three percent of children are kids of color.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">&nbsp;[Click on graphic to enlarge.]</p>
<p align="center"><a title="WA_Demog_1980to2050" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/Race_Eth_1980to2050.JPG"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/Race_Eth_1980to2050.JPG/image_preview" alt="WA_Demog_1980to2050" height="252" width="462" /><br /></a></p>
<p align="left">In an inclusive economy, all Washingtonians – regardless of race, ethnicity, nativity, income, or community of residence – would be able to access quality jobs and have financial security and stability. Our education system would be preparing students and workers for good jobs and jobs of the future. And all Washingtonians would be able to live healthy lives in vibrant communities so they can better connect to and participate in the economy. However, data trends highlighted in our report indicate economic prosperity is out or reach for many residents in three key areas – economic security; education and job readiness; and healthy people and communities. For example:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Economic security</strong>: Although economic growth holds the promise of prosperity for working people across the state, rising employment has not reached all communities. While unemployment in Washington state has overall dipped to 4.5 percent, for many communities of color – such as Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Blacks – unemployment rates remain at or near 10 percent. There are geographic differences as well: the unemployment rate has remained high in many rural counties. In Ferry County, the unemployment rate is the highest in the state at 9.1 percent, and in Pacific and Wahkiakum counties, unemployment remains at just above 6 percent. <br /></li><li><strong>Education and job readiness</strong>: While the state’s Department of Early Learning’s goal is for 90 percent of kids to start kindergarten with the skills they need to succeed, currently only 47 percent of kindergartners are meeting that threshold, and there are significant differences by income and race. Only 33 percent of kids with low incomes, 27 percent of Pacific Islander kids, 30 percent of Latino kids, and 32 percent of American Indian kids were kindergarten ready in 2016.</li><li><strong>Healthy people and communities</strong>: In Washington state, many low-income communities, communities of color, and rural communities experience worse health outcomes when it comes to chronic diseases, life expectancy, obesity, and more. Thirteen percent of households in Washington struggle with food insecurity – the inability to have three meals on the table every day as a result of lack of resources. Among 10th graders, Pacific Islander, Latino, and Black students have the highest likelihood of living in families that had to reduce meal sizes or skip meals compared to overall state average.</li></ul>
<div>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">&nbsp;[Click on graphic to enlarge.]</p>
</div>
<div align="center"><a title="Food_Insecurity_10th_graders" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/Food_Security_10th_graders.JPG"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/Food_Security_10th_graders.JPG/image_preview" alt="Food_Insecurity_10th_graders" height="252" width="458" /></a></div>
<p class="discreet">Note about data: Disaggregated data is presented to provide a preliminary understanding of disparities by race, ethnicity, and nativity. On its own, the data throughout the report tells a limited story about the population it represents. We encourage users of this data to engage with communities of color to develop a more accurate and meaningful understanding than the data allows.</p>
<p>These and other trends highlighted in the report point to the fact that much work remains to be done for policymakers and all of us to advance shared prosperity and progress for generations to come. Our state budget and tax code are powerful tools to make this happen and to build an inclusive economy. In the upcoming 2018 legislative session and beyond, policymakers can choose to advance shared prosperity by making sure our state budget and policies increase economic security, promote racial equity, ensure all kids have access to great schools, and build thriving communities for everyone.</p>
<p>Stay tuned for the next publications in the <em>Progress in Washington</em> series, which will explore policy solutions that address the barriers to opportunities described in the <a class="external-link" href="../building-an-inclusive-economy/pdf_version">“Building an Inclusive Economy” report</a>.</p>
<p><strong><em><a class="external-link" href="../building-an-inclusive-economy/pdf_version">“Building an Inclusive Economy”</a> is the first report in our </em>Progress in Washington 2018 <em>series. The report is intended to offer a framework for understanding the challenges before us. To reach the goal of an inclusive Washington state economy with shared prosperity for everyone, we need to know where we are, where we need to be, and how we can get there.</em></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">*************</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">Want to receive the latest news, updates, and analyses from the&nbsp;<br />Washington State Budget &amp; Policy Center in your inbox?&nbsp;<a class="external-link" href="blog/about-us/contact-us-1/sign-up-for-our-newsletter">Sign up here</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">*************</p>
No publisherJennifer TranProgress IndexIncome InequalityCommunityHealth CarePovertyEconomic SecurityEquityEducation2017-12-13T21:42:01ZBlog EntryKIDS COUNT Report: Barriers to Opportunity Prevent Children of Color and Immigrant Children from Reaching Their Full Potentialhttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/kids-count-report-barriers-to-opportunity-prevent-children-of-color-and-immigrant-children-from-reaching-their-full-potential
<p align="center" style="text-align: left;">The United States and Washington state are stronger when we harness the talents and drive of all people – including children – who will help build the nation’s future. For our country and state to reach our full economic, democratic, and moral potential, all children must have the opportunity to grow, develop, and thrive. A new Annie E. Casey Foundation <a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-2017raceforresults-2017.pdf">report</a> shows that too many young people of color are still facing barriers to a bright future, however. While there have been modest gains in terms of the well-being of kids of color in Washington state over the last three years, the report notes that families of diverse backgrounds, including immigrant families, struggle against barriers to success. Policymakers must enact policies to level the playing field for all kids.</p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: left;"><a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/resources/2017-race-for-results/"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/Washington_AECF_RaceForResults_socialNumbers_v21.png/image_preview" alt="2017_AECF_Race_for_Results" /></a></p>
<p align="left">The Casey Foundation report, <a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-2017raceforresults-2017.pdf">2017 Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children</a>, measures children’s progress on the national and state levels in key education, health, and economic milestones by racial and ethnic groups. It shows that, in Washington state, Latino children, Black children, and American Indian children have lower overall scores of wellness compared to White and Asian and Pacific Islander children. Specifically, the report uses a composite score of child wellness based on a range of data indicators – with 1 being the lowest score and 1,000 being the highest. Latino, Black, and American Indian children scored 401, 456, and 459 respectively, while White children and Asian Pacific Islander children scored 719 and 756.</p>
<p align="left">The 2017 Race for Results report also highlights the fact that children in immigrant families face some notable barriers:</p>
<ul><li>Two-thirds of Washington children in U.S.-born headed households live in households with a basic-needs income or greater (above 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $40,320 for a family of three 2016), while <strong>just one in two children in immigrant families have an income sufficient to meet their basic needs</strong>. That income gap is larger in Washington than at the national level.</li><li>Children in immigrant families are <strong>less likely to grow up with a head of household who has at least a high school diploma</strong>.</li></ul>
<p>More than 440,000 (28 percent) of Washington’s 1.6 million kids are children in immigrant families. Four out of five of immigrant children are children of color. Despite the challenges they face, children and young adults in immigrant families are also doing well on some measures:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Black and Asian Pacific Islander 3- and 4-year olds in immigrant families have the same or higher rates of enrollment</strong> in nursery school, preschool, or kindergarten than the Washington state average overall (60 percent).</li><li><strong>Young adults aged 19 to 26 in immigrant families also tend to be working or enrolled in a degree, training, or certificate program at the same rates as their U.S.-born peer</strong>s.</li><li><strong>Black, White, and Asian Pacific Islander young adults in immigrant families are more likely to have an associate’s degree or other advanced degree</strong>.</li></ul>
<p>The report underscores the formidable risks to healthy child development in immigrant families and for children of color that are caused by issues such as lack of access to living-wage jobs, limited educational opportunities, and family separation. These risks are further exacerbated by policies that limit resources and restrict access. Immigrant families are also facing policy proposals that threaten the residency status of 800,000 young people who have been granted a reprieve from fear of deportation through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Washington state is home to <a class="external-link" href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/All Form Types/DACA/daca_performancedata_fy2017_qtr2.pdf">19,000 of the 800,000 DACA recipients</a>.<em><br /></em></p>
<p><em>All </em>children need to reach their full potential if we are to reach ours as a nation. This means lawmakers must break down systemic barriers to opportunity placed in front of many children of color and immigrant children. With regard to immigrant children in particular, much of this country’s future success depends on how we equip immigrant families with the tools and skills that enable them to contribute to local economies – as immigrants have done since the founding of this country. The 2017 Race for Results report makes several recommendations to maximize children’s access to opportunity:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Keep families together</strong>. Immigration authorities and family courts can protect kids from adverse experiences by exercising discretion in choosing whether to separate parents from their children.</li><li><strong>Help kids in communities of color, both immigrant and U.S.-born, to meet key developmental milestones</strong>. Policymakers can do more to link eligible families to quality early learning led by culturally competent teachers. More states, universities, and colleges can help qualified students pay for college without regard to immigration status.</li><li><strong>Increase economic opportunity</strong>. Among the actions state policymakers can take is to increase access to occupational licenses and credentials to income-earning parents who entered their professions in foreign countries, boosting the prospects for higher household income.</li></ul>
<p><strong><em>To read more about how Washington’s kids are progressing on key milestones across racial and ethnic groups compared to the nation and other states, read the full <a class="external-link" href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-2017raceforresults-2017.pdf">2017 Race for Results: Building a Path to Opportunity for All Children</a> report</em></strong><strong><em> and our KIDS COUNT in Washington <a class="external-link" href="http://childrensalliance.org/resources/news/state-federal-lawmakers-must-take-steps-enhance-opportunity-success-kids">press release</a></em></strong><strong><em>.</em></strong><br /><br /></p>
No publisherJennifer TranPovertyEconomic SecurityEquityKids CountEducation2017-10-24T14:31:53ZBlog EntryNew Census Numbers: To Build Thriving Communities, Invest in Removing Barriers to Economic Securityhttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-census-numbers-to-build-thriving-communities-invest-in-removing-barriers-to-economic-security
<p><a class="external-link" href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2017/income-povery.html">New data</a> released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that there is some good news when it comes to poverty rates and access to health care in our state. At the same time, the data shows that many Washingtonians – in particular, some communities of color, women, and people with disabilities – still face barriers to economic security. The numbers make it clear that to build thriving communities, our policymakers must invest in priorities that remove obstacles to prosperity for Washingtonians.</p>
<p>First the good news: Last year, the poverty rate in Washington state declined slightly to 11.3 percent from 12.2 percent in 2015. And between 2013 and 2016, the rate of people with health insurance increased to 94 percent from 86 percent.<br /><br />The fact that fewer Washingtonians are living in poverty is likely due to economic growth and a low unemployment rate. And the insurance rate is more evidence that the Affordable Care Act has been extremely effective in ensuring more people can afford to have access to a doctor and preventive health services.<br /><br />Yet the numbers also reveal that despite economic growth, far too many residents of Washington face barriers to economic security, especially people of color, women, and people with disabilities. In fact, the poverty rate for some communities of color in Washington is nearly two to three times that of whites. Systemic barriers are impacting many people’s ability to put food on the table and pay for their housing. For example:</p>
<ul><li>Twenty-seven percent of American Indian/Alaska Natives, 23 percent of Blacks, 20 percent of Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders, and 19 percent of Latinos live in poverty.</li><li>Among full-time workers, women earned 75 percent of what men earned in 2016.<br /></li><li>One in four working age Washingtonians with a disability live below the federal poverty line, compared to one in ten adults without disabilities.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<p><br />Further, when looking at the data over a longer time period, they show those facing the greatest hardship are not reaping the benefits of economic growth. In fact, more people in Washington are living in deep poverty – below 50 percent of the federal poverty line, which is less than $10,080 a year for a family of three in 2016 – than in 2006. The number of Washingtonians living in deep poverty grew by 17 percent between over the last decade (See figure below).</p>
<p align="center" class="discreet">(Click on graphic to enlarge)</p>
<p align="center" class="discreet"><a class="external-link" href="washingtonians-in-deep-poverty-2006-16/pdf_version"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/2017_09_19_Deep_Poverty_Blog_Post_Chart.jpg/image_preview" alt="Washingtonians in Deep Poverty" /></a></p>
<p>Our economy and our communities will be stronger when everyone is able to not only to make ends meet, but also to have a better future – and when lawmakers act to undo systemic and institutional barriers that prevent people from having equal access to opportunity.<br /><br />While it is good news that there is declining poverty overall and greater rates of health insurance coverage in our state, the new Census numbers nevertheless underscore that too many people are still facing financial hardship. In order to build thriving communities, lawmakers in our state need to make investments that enable all our residents to thrive. Further, federal policymakers must protect essential health care coverage&nbsp;–&nbsp;pushing back against continued efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act&nbsp;–&nbsp;and they must protect programs that ensure that when people hit hard times, they don’t go without the basics.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">*************</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">Want to receive the latest news, updates, and analyses from the&nbsp;<br />Washington State Budget &amp; Policy Center in your inbox?&nbsp;<a class="external-link" href="../about-us/contact-us-1/sign-up-for-our-newsletter">Sign up here</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">*************</p>
No publisherJulie WattsFederal IssuesHealth CarePovertyEconomic SecurityEquity2017-10-17T17:49:50ZBlog EntryNew Research Brief: Early Learning Improves Kindergarten Readiness and Reduces Disparities for Kids of Color http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-research-brief-early-learning-improves-kindergarten-readiness-and-reduces-disparities-for-kids-of-color
<p>We all have a stake in making sure that from the day they’re born,
kids can have the enriching experiences they need to get off to a great
start in life. Quality early learning can give children the tools they
need to thrive academically and emotionally throughout their entire
lives.&nbsp;</p>
<p>This new KIDS COUNT in Washington <a class="external-link" href="../kids-count-eceap-research-brief-apr-2017/pdf_version">research brief</a> demonstrates why legislators need to make greater investments in the
<a class="external-link" href="https://del.wa.gov/parents-family/eceap-and-head-start">Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP)</a> – our state’s
preschool program that serves children from families living in poverty. Expanding this
program to ensure all eligible kids can participate could help more of
Washington’s kids show up to kindergarten ready to learn. It could
especially help many children of color who haven’t had equal access to
opportunities that promote kindergarten readiness.</p>
<p>
ECEAP, which
serves families with incomes below 110 percent of the federal poverty
line ($26,730 for a family of four in 2017), offers many of our state’s
most vulnerable children quality early-childhood learning experiences.
It has a proven record of improving <a class="external-link" href="http://del-public-files.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ECEAP_Outcomes_2015-16%20revised.pdf">kindergarten readiness</a> and
impacting their <a class="external-link" href="http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1576/Wsipp_Outcome-Evaluation-of-Washington-States-Early-Childhood-Education-and-Assistance-Program_Report.pdf">long-term academic success</a>. Yet because of
inadequate state investments in this program, there are currently about
<a class="external-link" href="https://del.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/ECEAP/ECEAP_and_Head_Start_Saturation_Study_-_March_2017.pdf">23,000 unserved children eligible for ECEAP</a> in Washington, 62
percent of whom we estimate are children of color.</p>
<p><a class="external-link" href="http://kidscountwa.org/">KIDS COUNT in
Washington</a>, which is a partnership between the Budget &amp;
Policy Center and the Children’s Alliance, examined how expanding ECEAP
to serve the 23,000 unserved eligible children could impact readiness
for kindergarten across the state and help bridge disparities in access
to opportunities that promote kindergarten readiness. Our analysis
concluded:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Kindergarten readiness in Washington overall could increase by 20 percent</strong> (to 56 percent from 47 percent);</li><li><strong>7,900 more children could be ready for kindergarten on all six
indicators of readiness</strong> (1) by the end of their year in ECEAP; and</li></ul>
<ul><li><strong>The share of Latino, American Indian, and Black children ready for kindergarten could have the largest increases </strong>(See chart for more details).</li></ul>
<p align="center" class="discreet">(Click on graphic for enlarged image)</p>
<p align="center"><a class="external-link" href="../Chart_image.PNG/image_view_fullscreen"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/images/Chart_image.PNG/image_preview" alt="ECEAP K-Readiness" /></a></p>
<p>The
Washington State Department of Early Learning has set a goal of
ensuring that, by 2020, 90 percent of Washington children enter
kindergarten prepared to learn, with race and family income no longer a
predictor of kindergarten readiness. A key to delivering on that
promise is to make sure all eligible children have access to ECEAP.&nbsp;</p>
<p>See
our full <a class="external-link" href="../kids-count-eceap-research-brief-apr-2017/pdf_version">research brief</a> for more information on how expanding ECEAP
could improve kindergarten readiness for all kids in Washington state and help
bridge disparities for kids of color.</p>
<p class="discreet"><em><br /></em></p>
<p class="discreet"><em>For more detailed
technical information on our analysis, please contact
<a class="external-link" href="mailto:jennifert@budgetandpolicy.org">jennifert@budgetandpolicy.org</a> for a copy of our Data and Methods
document.</em></p>
<p class="discreet">1. The six indicators of readiness refer to an
assessment by educators and teachers to measure kindergarten readiness
on six developmental domains: social-emotional, physical, language,
cognitive, literacy, and mathematics. See the <a class="external-link" href="../kids-count-eceap-research-brief-apr-2017/pdf_version">full brief</a> for more
information on how the indicators are measured.</p>
No publisherJennifer TranKids CountEducationEquity2017-04-20T16:37:24ZBlog EntryNew Fact Sheet: Advancing Racial Equity through the Working Families Tax Rebate http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-fact-sheet-advancing-racial-equity-through-the-working-families-tax-rebate
<div>By Asha Bellduboset, Narver fellow</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>It’s time for Washington state to have an equitable tax code. Currently, it disproportionately relies on people with low incomes while giving the wealthiest people tax breaks. That’s just upside down. What’s more, those most heavily burdened by our upside-down tax code are people with low incomes, many of whom are people of color. The Working Families Tax Rebate (WFTR) is an important tool to help turn our tax code right-side up and to help undo the systemic inequities that have created an uneven playing field for people of color.<br /><br /></div>
<p>The Washington state legislature enacted the WFTR in 2008, but it was never funded. It is one of the most effective ways Washington can work to correct our state’s reliance on regressive sales taxes that overburden lower-income families. The rebate uses the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program, a powerful anti-poverty tool, as a basis for eligibility. The WFTR would provide qualifying low-wage workers with an annual boost to their income in the form of a tax credit.</p>
<p>Funding the WFTR would advance racial equity by supporting the economic security of Washingtonians of color who are working in low-wage jobs. <a class="external-link" href="../how-wftr-advances-equity-fact-sheet/pdf_version"><strong>Our new WFTR fact sheet</strong></a> shows how the WFTR would benefit families in all of Washington’s 39 counties from all racial backgrounds. For example, our analysis shows that, if the WFTR were funded:</p>
<p>•<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span> Recipients would invest $98.5 million back into local economies throughout Washington state, <strong>nearly half (49 percent) of which would go to communities of color</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>•<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>The rebate would improve the lives of many children of color, given that <strong>51 percent of qualifying children in EITC-eligible households are children of color</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>•<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><strong>Approximately 498,000 Washingtonians in all 39 counties of the state would be eligible for the WFTR</strong>, which means residents in all counties would see some economic gain.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet">[Click on image to see full PDF that includes this graphic]&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a class="external-link" href="../how-wftr-advances-equity-fact-sheet/pdf_version"><img class="image-inline" src="/images/WorkingFamiliesTaxRebateGraphV2jpg.jpg/image_preview" alt="WFTR Advances Equity One-Pager" /></a></p>
<p><em><strong>Take a look at <a class="external-link" href="../how-wftr-advances-equity-fact-sheet/pdf_version">our fact sheet</a> for more information on how the Working Families Tax Rebate would advance equity for our state and its people.&nbsp;</strong></em></p>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnWorking Families RebateEquity2017-04-03T18:50:17ZBlog EntrySenate Republicans' Plan Doesn't Amply Fund Schools, Puts Other Programs at Riskhttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/senate-republicans2019-levy-swap-proposal-doesn2019t-do-enough-for-washington2019s-kids
<p>The Senate Republicans' new plan to fund K-12 public schools continues to work within a framework that doesn’t raise additional revenue – a strategy that has proven ineffective at serving Washington's kids and that could force cuts to other important investments. To pay for the basics, including keeping excellent teachers and staff in our public schools, the legislature must inject more resources into schools than they have in recent years. Any plan to improve our schools must include additional new revenue, as well as a strong focus on equity, sustainability, and adequacy.</p>
<p>The Senate’s plan, called the Education Equality Act, features as its major funding source a new Local Effort Levy – basically, an increase to the statewide property tax of $1.80 per $1,000 of assessed value. As details about the plan emerge, however, it appears that the plan does not actually raise additional dollars for schools. That’s because the proposed statewide property tax increase is coupled with cuts to local property tax levies that currently fund a significant portion of basic education costs. <a class="external-link" href="mccleary-reality-check-legitimate-solutions-required-to-fully-fund-schools">As we’ve said in the past</a>, levy swaps like this are schemes that change the source of the money flowing to schools but don’t actually make new investments in Washington’s kids.</p>
<p>As it is structured, the plan could deepen the shortfall in school funding because the plan does not pay for itself. It leaves a $1.4 billion hole in the 2019-2021 budget, for which its authors have yet to identify a source of funding. Promising to pay for education without identifying a funding source is a prescription for&nbsp;damaging&nbsp;cuts throughout the rest of the budget. And while the plan would dedicate future revenue growth to funding basic education, it would use any revenue growth in addition to the dedicated funds to decrease the new Local Effort Levy to a rate of $1.25. In short, the proposal is not only short on revenue now, but it is also designed to restrict revenue growth for schools and other public investments in the future. &nbsp;</p>
<p>There is certainly promise in raising additional school revenue through property tax reforms, <a class="external-link" href="it2019s-time-to-strengthen-our-property-tax-code-to-invest-in-schools">as we have proposed</a>. The Senate's plan would effectively nearly double the current state property tax rate. And it exempts the Local Effort Levy from the damaging 1 percent property tax levy growth limit, which is a positive step toward making the tax code more sustainable. But this plan should go further and <a class="external-link" href="it2019s-time-to-strengthen-our-property-tax-code-to-invest-in-schools">get rid of the 1 percent levy growth limit altogether</a> to allow property tax revenue to better keep up with the needs of our schools.</p>
<p>In addition, any reforms to the property tax should also include steps to fix our inequitable, upside-down tax code – in which Washingtonians with the lowest incomes pay seven times what the richest 1 percent pay in taxes as a share of income. The Senate's plan aims to more evenly distribute the tax code so that homeowners in every school district pay the same property tax rate, regardless of property values. But that doesn’t do enough to protect the thousands of lower- and middle-income homeowners and renters who would see higher property tax bills under the Senate proposal. The proposal should include <a class="external-link" href="creating-a-safeguard-rebate-is-key-to-equitable-property-tax-reform">a property tax safeguard rebate</a>&nbsp;to ensure that property tax increases do not fall disproportionately on the shoulders of families who can’t afford it, no matter what part of the state they call home.</p>
<p><strong><em>To learn more about the Senate Republicans' school funding plan, join our fiscal policy team <a class="external-link" href="https://cc.readytalk.com/registration/#/?meeting=qoizp2lyukzo&amp;campaign=iciaa93x7jur">for a Budget Beat webinar</a>&nbsp;this Friday, February 3, at noon. And stay tuned for further analysis when more details about the fiscal impact of the plan become available.&nbsp;</em></strong></p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
No publisherKelli SmithProperty TaxState RevenueEquityState BudgetState Economy2017-02-07T23:02:09ZBlog EntryThe Future We Want: The Washington State Budget & Policy Center Announces Our 2017-2019 Legislative Agendahttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/the-future-we-want-the-washington-state-budget-policy-center-announces-our-2017-2019-legislative-agenda
<p>Great schools, strong communities, healthy families: these are the things Washingtonians care about. Everyone wants this to be a state where kids can meet their full potential, where everyone can breathe clean air and drink clean water, and where everyone can succeed.</p>
<p>In the face of big changes on the national landscape, now more than ever it is important that state policymakers work to ensure the future of Washington as a place where all people can lead safe, happy, and healthy lives. The decisions they make now will influence the well-being of people in Washington for years to come.</p>
<p>How do we create a better future for our state? The <strong><a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/legislative-agenda-1">Washington State Budget &amp; Policy Center’s 2017-2019 Legislative Agenda</a></strong> offers a framework for how policymakers can ensure that every child, every family, every individual, and every community in our state can thrive.</p>
<p>Starting in January, state policymakers must take action to deliver <a class="external-link" href="../reports/a-parmount-duty-funding-education-for-mccleary-and-beyond/pdf_version">a world-class basic education</a> to every child. This will require cleaning up the tax code and <a class="external-link" href="funding-schools-for-washington2019s-kids-can2019t-be-done-through-property-tax-gimmicks">avoiding distractions</a> that take attention away from efforts to make sure every kid in Washington state has access to great schools. It is imperative that policymakers accomplish this task while also dedicating resources to priorities that make Washington a great place to live, from early learning to long-term care, from school breakfast for kids to night classes for their parents.</p>
<p>We know that basic education will dominate the conversation this legislative session. We also know that kids can’t succeed if their parents are struggling to meet their basic needs, if their neighborhoods aren’t safe, and if their communities aren’t healthy. That is why our Legislative Agenda is focused on building a better Washington through the six key areas laid out in our <em><a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/progress-index">Progress Index</a>:</em> world-class education; economic security, healthy people and environment; community development and trust; good jobs; and revenue. The recommendations within our agenda also aim to promote policies that advance racial equity. The Budget &amp; Policy Center <a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/legislative-agenda-1">Legislative Agenda</a> offers specific recommendations for how lawmakers can:</p>
<ul><li>Build <strong>economic security</strong> by addressing intergenerational poverty, strengthening support for families, and making sure everyone can afford a roof over their head and food on the table.</li><li>Create a world-class <strong>education</strong> system that provides kids with high-quality teachers, gives them a great start through early learning, and offers equitable access to higher education.</li><li>Ensure everyone has access to affordable <strong>health</strong> care, as well as mental health and public health services; make sure that everyone lives in an <strong>environment</strong> with clean air, water, and land.</li><li>Develop strong <strong>communities</strong> and racial equity while addressing barriers to re-entry and ensuring access to civil legal assistance; ensure that there’s greater transparency about our state’s tax breaks.</li><li>Promote <strong>great jobs </strong>that stimulate economic growth and development, and advance opportunities for all workers to have paid time off to be with their families.</li><li><strong>Clean up the state’s tax code</strong> so that our state has the resources it needs to support a high quality of life for everyone.</li></ul>
<p><span class="apple-style-span">Throughout the legislative
session, which begins January 9, and beyond, the Budget &amp; Policy Center
will work with partner organizations, community leaders, and grassroots
advocates to advance the priorities laid out in this agenda. Our research and analysis
will continue to show policymakers why it is critical to invest in the progress
of our state and its people – especially in the face of proposed federal
policies that threaten to move us backward rather than forward.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span class="apple-style-span"><br /></span></p>
No publisherJulie WattsEnvironmentHealth CarePovertyEconomic SecurityEquityState BudgetEducation2017-07-24T19:50:27ZBlog EntryCensus Data Highlights Disparities in Economic Well-Being for Children of Color http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/census-data-highlights-disparities-in-economic-well-being-for-children-of-color
<div class="discreet">by David Hlebain, interim policy analyst</div>
<div class="discreet">&nbsp;</div>
<p>While 2016 <a class="external-link" href="Too%20Many%20Washingtonians%20Still%20Struggling%20to%20Make%20Ends%20Meet%20">U.S. Census data</a> shows an overall slight decline in Washington residents living below the poverty line, a closer look at the numbers demonstrates persistent economic challenges of households and families with low incomes. Kids, especially children of color, are most likely to grow up in households with low incomes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Check out <a class="external-link" href="../economic-insecurity-census-fact-sheet-2016/pdf_version">our new infographic</a>, “A Look at the Economic Well-Being of Washingtonians with Low Incomes,” for additional Washington state data.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="discreet">Click here or on graphic to see to full PDF.</p>
<p><span class="Apple-style-span"><a class="external-link" href="../economic-insecurity-census-fact-sheet-2016/pdf_version"><img class="image-inline" src="/Poverty%20Factsheet%20graphic.jpg/image_preview" alt="Economic Insecurity Census Graphic 2016" /></a></span></p>
<p>A closer look at the data shows that in Washington state:</p>
<ul><li><strong>One in 17 residents (nearly 6 percent) live in deep poverty</strong>, defined as 50 percent of the federal poverty line (a $10,080 annual income for a family of three).</li><li><strong>Nearly two in five kids (more than 37 percent) live in households with low incomes</strong>, defined as 200 percent of the federal poverty line ($40,320 for a family of three).&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Economic disparities persist for kids of color. </strong>Sixty-six percent of Latino children, 57 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children, and 57 percent of Black children live in households with low incomes.</li></ul>
<p>Poverty can impede kids’ success in school, their overall health, and the stability of their family. This data underscores the importance of investing in policies to ensure that all of Washington’s kids and families can thrive.&nbsp;</p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnPovertyEconomic SecurityEquity2017-07-24T19:46:33ZBlog EntryRaising the Minimum Wage Is an Investment in Washington’s Kids http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/raising-the-minimum-wage-is-an-investment-in-washington2019s-kids
<div class="discreet">By David Hlebain, interim policy analyst</div>
<div class="discreet"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>
<p><span class="Apple-style-span">In Washington state, a single parent with two kids working full-time at a minimum wage job has an income below the federal poverty level and far below what’s needed to meet the rising costs of basic necessities. (1) Raising the statewide minimum wage to $13.50 through Initiative 1433* on the November ballot will help change this and is an important step toward ensuring that all of Washington’s kids and families have the opportunity to thrive.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>A higher wage would help reduce poverty – something that is desperately needed right now. Child poverty in Washington increased nearly 30 percent between 2008 and 2014, with an additional 59,000 children growing up poor, according to <a class="external-link" href="new-report-changes-needed-so-washington2019s-kids-have-chance-for-bright-future">KIDS COUNT</a>. Even more troubling, only 31 percent of Black children, 31 percent of Latino children, and 26 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children live in economically secure households (which is defined as 200 percent of the federal poverty line, or a $40,320 income for a family of three).&nbsp;</p>
<p>Raising the minimum wage to $13.50 would improve the lives of these struggling Washington families. More than 360,000 Washington kids currently live in families where one or more parents make less than $13.50 per hour. (2) The proposed minimum wage increase would make a big difference for these families, providing an additional $700 per month for the average worker to help make ends meet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Further, raising the wage would increase the incomes of tens of thousands of families of color who are disproportionately likely to struggle economically as a result of historically racist policies that have excluded them from opportunities for jobs, education, homeownership, and more.&nbsp;</p>
<p>By helping hundreds of thousands of Washington families lift themselves out of poverty, a $13.50 minimum wage would strengthen the economic and social well-being of Washington’s kids and families in three key ways:</p>
<p><strong>Helping Kids Do Better In School</strong></p>
<p><span class="Apple-style-span">Children who experience instability at home
because of poverty have a harder time concentrating at school.</span>&nbsp;This can undermine children’s progress in the earliest stages of their education by impeding their cognitive, social, and emotional development. In fact, <a class="external-link" href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/0319_school_disadvantage_isaacs.pdf">research demonstrates a significant gap in kindergarten readiness</a> between children who grow up in poverty compared with kids from families with moderate and high incomes.&nbsp;</p>
<p>If parents are earning higher wages, they have a greater ability to feed their family, pay the bills and rent, and maybe even afford enriching activities for their kids. As a result, their children are more likely to thrive at school.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Healthier Kids</strong></p>
<p>The economic security of families is critical to the health of kids. The lack of a safe, economically stable home can create toxic levels of stress for parents and kids. In fact, high-stress events experienced in childhood – including sustained economic hardship – <a class="external-link" href="http://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Brief-adverse-childhood-experiences_FINAL.pdf">are linked to poor health later in life</a>, such as obesity, alcoholism, and depression.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Because higher wages allow parents to put food on the table, a higher minimum wage can also help combat childhood hunger. Currently, more than 13 percent of Washington kids go hungry because their parents can’t afford to buy enough food, and those rates are even higher among children of color. Additionally, <a class="external-link" href="http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303268">minimum wage increases have been shown to correlate with fewer babies born at low birthweights</a>, one of the earliest indicators of the health of the next generation.</p>
<p><strong>Strong Families and Homes</strong></p>
<p>As mentioned previously, parents living in poverty can have heightened stress levels if they’re worried about paying rent and bills each month or having trouble dealing with unexpected costs, such as car repairs. This stress can detract from the necessary time and mental capacity for parents to fully engage with – and develop strong attachments to – their kids. Compromised parenting influences children in both the short term and the long term. <a class="external-link" href="http://www.partnersforourchildren.org/sites/default/files/Poverty%20and%20Child%20Welfare%20Involvement%205-3-16.pdf">Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to enter the child welfare system</a>. And adversity experienced as kids can make transitioning to adulthood difficult.</p>
<p>Creating environments for kids to thrive requires policies that improve the well-being of parents and children. A higher wage for hardworking parents who make the minimum wage is a great investment in the strength of entire families and households.</p>
<p>The passage of Initiative 1433 would give more families the ability to improve their well-being. Indeed, it would allow more of Washington’s kids to have the chance to succeed in school, to have a healthy start in life, and to have their basic needs met. Raising the wage would help us build a better future for all of us.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>*Authors’ Note: The scope of this analysis focuses solely on the minimum wage component of Initiative 1433. The other component of I-1433, which provides sick and safe leave, also offers significant benefits to kids and families. For analysis on how a sick leave policy would strengthen the well-being of Washington’s families and communities, please see this recent <a class="external-link" href="http://www.childrensalliance.org/no-kidding-blog/news-educators-parents-and-children%E2%80%99s-health-experts-underscore-importance-paid-sick">press release</a> published by Children’s Alliance and <a class="external-link" href="http://www.eoionline.org/work-family/paid-sick-days/why-washington-needs-paid-sick-leave/">this report </a>by the Economic Opportunity Institute.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p class="discreet">1. The 2016 federal poverty line for a family of three is $20,160. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s “Living Wage Calculator” estimates a single parent with two kids needs to earn $59,550 in order to cover costs of basic needs in Washington state.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="discreet">2. Economic Policy Institute analysis of Current Population Survey, Outgoing Rotation Group public use microdata 2014.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnKids CountPovertyMinimum WageEquity2017-07-24T20:00:41ZBlog EntryAll Income Growth is Going to the Richest 1 Percent of Washingtonianshttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/all-income-growth-is-going-to-the-richest-1-percent-of-washingtonians
<p>It’s time for policymakers in Washington state to take steps to reverse decades of widening economic disparities that threaten broad prosperity, now that it has <a class="external-link" href="http://www.epi.org/publication/income-inequality-in-the-us/">again been shown</a> that all income growth since 2009 continues to flow to the wealthiest Washingtonians.</p>
<p>An <a class="external-link" href="http://www.epi.org/publication/income-inequality-in-the-us/">updated report from the Economic Policy Institute</a> (EPI) shows that the richest 1 percent of households – those making over $388,000 a year – captured <em>all</em> of the new income generated in Washington state between 2009 and 2013 (see graph). By contrast, and in a stark reversal from past decades, average incomes among the remaining 99 percent of Washingtonians <em>declined</em> during this period, causing far too many hardworking families to fall even further behind.</p>
<p align="center"><a title="2016-6_Top_1_Percent_Income_GrowthEPI" class="internal-link" href="/images/2016623_EPI_Top_1_Percent_Income_Growth.jpg"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/images/2016623_EPI_Top_1_Percent_Income_Growth.jpg/image_preview" alt="2016-6_Top_1_Percent_Income_GrowthEPI" /></a></p>
<p>The richest 1 percent of Washingtonians didn’t always reap such an outsized share of income gains during periods of economic growth. Prior to 1980, the 99 percent typically captured at least 80 percent of all income gains during economic expansions.</p>
<p>Further, as the EPI report points out, it used to be considered outrageous for executives to receive multimillion dollar salaries and outsized bonuses while laying off workers. Today, as the vast majority of working people and families in Washington state continue to struggle, super-rich CEOs living here are doing better than ever. In fact, in 2015, the CEO of Washington state-based Expedia <a class="external-link" href="http://www.seattletimes.com/business/expedia-ceo-must-earn-his-huge-pay-package-over-time/">received the highest pay ($94.6 million)</a> of any corporate chief executive in the county.</p>
<p>It has become abundantly clear in recent years that everyday Americans and Washingtonians are tired of the economic inequality that has become the norm. In our state, we need policies that help all communities thrive by strengthening employment and creating more living-wage jobs. We need to make sure our tax code doesn’t favor the wealthy and the politically connected over the common good.</p>
<p>In fact, our upside-down tax system – where Washingtonians with the lowest incomes pay seven times as much in state and local taxes as a share of their income than the richest 1 percent – makes it even harder for the 99 percent to get ahead.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Building a stronger Washington economy requires greater economic equality and overall equity. Lawmakers must undo the systemic inequities that have created gaps in opportunity for many people of color to receive good jobs and living-wage salaries.</p>
<p>In Washington state:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Voters can help advance economic equality and close the opportunity gap if Initiative 1433, now gathering signatures, makes it on the November ballot and passes</strong>. It would incrementally raise the minimum wage to $13.50 over four years, increasing the take-home pay for 730,000 people working across a range of sectors. It would also provide paid sick leave, so parents don’t lose wages when they need to take care of themselves or their children when they’re sick.</li><li><strong>Lawmakers during the 2017 legislative session must pass <a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/state-revenue/capital-gains">the capital gains tax</a> </strong>recently proposed by Governor Inslee and leaders in the State House, which has been endorsed by major papers and many community groups throughout our state. And they should use the revenue from capital gains to invest in education, health care, and other services that expand economic opportunities for everyone. </li></ul>
<p>And as lawmakers work to craft policies that seek to provide economic opportunity to Washingtonians, they must be especially mindful that those policies empower those who have been most harmed by racism and other structural inequalities that fuel the rise in economic inequality. <br /><br /></p>
No publisherAndy NicholasIncome InequalityMinimum WageEconomic SecurityEquityBallot MeasuresCapital Gains2016-06-23T21:47:03ZBlog EntryTo Make Our State Better for All Washingtonians, Lawmakers Should Pass Racial Equity Bills http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/to-make-our-state-better-for-all-washingtonians-lawmakers-should-pass-racial-equity-bill
<p>In order to live up to the promise of a brighter future for our state, we need public policies that create opportunities for all communities to succeed. However, the policies and programs that lawmakers enact often run the risk of creating barriers to success – particularly for people of color and people with low incomes. Racial equity assessment tools, like the ones proposed in <a class="external-link" href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=2076&amp;year=2015">House Bill 2076</a>&nbsp;and Substitute&nbsp;<a class="external-link" href="http://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5752&amp;year=2015">Senate Bill 5752</a>, should be incorporated into the legislative process. These assessment tools help lawmakers better understand the real impacts of their proposed policies by highlighting how they either promote opportunity by advancing racial equity or reinforce barriers by perpetuating institutional racism.</p>
<p>Below is a summary of HB 2076 and SB 5752:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Both bills would require key government agencies to develop a procedure for implementing racial impact statements for resolutions and legislative bills.</strong> These statements would be intended to demonstrate how a given policy would impact a range of potential outcomes -- from economic security to community safety to environmental health -- in communities of color.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>HB 2076 is stronger than SB 5752 by requiring that agencies actually complete a racial impact statement for a bill or resolution at the request of any legislator. </strong>Producing such statements would be an important, measurable step toward fixing a system that, in too many cases, has contributed to keeping Washington state’s people and communities from reaching their full potential.</li></ul>
<img style="float: right;" class="image-right image-inline" src="/schmudget/copy_of_Equity_inst_rac_def01.jpg" alt="Equity definition box final" />
<p>Both bills could be strengthened even more by requiring racial impact statements be completed for <em>all bills</em> affecting health and human service caseloads.<strong> </strong>Because to make meaningful change, policymakers must institutionalize practices that seek to undo racism.&nbsp;</p>
<p>As legislators consider the implementation of racial equity assessments in our state, they don’t have to look far for inspiration. Several states across the nation, including <a class="external-link" href="http://www.oregon.gov/cjc/SAC/Pages/RacialImpact.aspx">Oregon</a>, have successfully instituted racial equity impact statements for various forms of legislation. In addition, King County has an <a class="external-link" href="http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice/tools-resources.aspx">Equity Impact Review Tool</a> and the City of Seattle has a <a class="external-link" href="http://www.seattle.gov/rsji/resources">Racial Equity Toolkit</a>, both of which have led to important changes in how policies are drafted.&nbsp; HB 2076 and SB 5752 are a great start toward ensuring these types of efforts are happening statewide in Washington.</p>
<p>We all want to build a better future for our families and our state, but to fulfill that promise we must change the way we do our work.&nbsp;Racial equity impact statements are an important tool in the larger efforts to ensure that all members of our communities have access to the building blocks of a strong economy. And they also will help to undo the systemic inequities that have all too often played a role in keeping communities of color and people with low incomes on unstable and unequal footing.&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>Learn more about various racial equity impact assessment tools and see local examples, including the tool we developed with our Washington KIDS COUNT&nbsp; partners at Children’s Alliance, <a class="external-link" href="http://kidscountwa.org/racial-equity-tool/">here</a>. Racial equity impact assessments were also a key topic at our Budget Matter Summit this year. If you missed it, check out <a class="external-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw8H64-jaGo">this video</a> of the summit panel.</em><br /><br /></p>
No publisherElena HernandezEquity2016-06-29T23:50:16ZBlog EntryLegislators Still Have Time to Advance Racial Equity This Yearhttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/legislators-still-have-time-to-advance-racial-equity-this-year
<div class="discreet"><em>By Elena Hernandez, Policy Analyst, Kim Justice, Senior Budget Analyst, and Lori Pfingst, Research and Policy Director</em></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<p>As Washington state’s population becomes more diverse, our lawmakers must invest in the needs of an increasingly multiracial and multiethnic population and ensure that there is equity for all Washingtonians. Too many people of color in Washington don’t have the opportunities they need to advance alongside their peers.</p>
<p class="discreet">(select image to enlarge)</p>
<p><em><a title="WA_race_image" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/WA_race_image.jpg"><img class="image-inline" src="/schmudget/WA_race_image.jpg" alt="WA_race_image" /></a></em></p>
<p>Our state budget must address persistent race and class divides so that all Washingtonians can contribute their talents toward a thriving 21st century economy. Equity and inclusion aren’t just simply the right thing to do – they are imperative to our economic success (see sidebar for definition of equity versus equality).</p>
<p><img class="image-right" src="/schmudget/copy_of_Equity_equality_def01.jpg" alt="Equity_definition_350" />So as lawmakers negotiate the budget, they should make investments to advance racial equity. This is paramount to helping ensure that hardworking Washington families can get ahead, kids can receive a top-notch education, and we can help create a healthy future for our residents and our environment.</p>
<p>The <a class="external-link" href="../reports/Facing%20Race%20Web%20v2.pdf"><em><strong>Facing Race</strong></em> report</a> recently offered key budget recommendations that would invest in opportunity for communities of color. Using the report as a framework, it's clear that the House budget proposal takes some initial steps to help advance equity. The Senate budget proposal, on the other hand, doesn’t do enough.&nbsp;</p>
<div>Below is a detailed analysis of how the state House and Senate budget proposals differ in their efforts to promote &nbsp;racial equity. <em>(Please note that this does not cover an exhaustive list of all budget priorities that policymakers can and should consider to improve racial equity.)&nbsp;</em></div>
<div><em><br /></em></div>
<p><strong>Education</strong></p>
<p>Washington should have a world-class education system that promotes opportunity and helps ensure a strong 21st century economy. &nbsp;However, we cannot achieve this as a state when so many of our kids face such significant barriers to opportunity. The opportunity gap in education – the gap that results from social and institutional obstacles that make it more difficult for some students to succeed – is especially prominent for kids of color and can start as early as nine months. It continues from early learning all the way through higher education.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Policymakers should work to close this gap so that all Washingtonians have the chance to thrive. This means making sure kids get quality early learning opportunities that set them up for success. It also means making targeted investments in K-12 education and making higher education more affordable<em>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p class="discreet">(select image to enlarge)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet"><a title="Equity_ed_final" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/equity_budget_ed02.jpg"><img class="image-inline" src="/schmudget/equity_budget_ed02.jpg/image_preview" alt="Equity_ed_final" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Economic Security</strong></p>
<p>Our state does best when we have a strong and inclusive middle class that allows all Washingtonians to contribute their talents and creativity and be rewarded fairly for their hard work. However, growing income inequality in our state is undermining our progress. This is feeding into race and class divides that continue to limit the ability of all residents to climb into the middle class and share in our state’s prosperity. &nbsp;</p>
<p>More and more families in our state, especially families of color, are finding it difficult to put food on the table or a roof over their head. Legislators must take steps to improve economic security for all Washingtonians by restoring investments in programs that give a lifeline to people struggling to make ends meet.<em>&nbsp;</em></p>
<p class="discreet">(select image to enlarge)</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><a title="Equity_econ_final" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/equity_budget_econ01.jpg"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/equity_budget_econ01.jpg/image_preview" alt="Equity_econ_final" /></a></div>
<p><strong>Healthy People &amp; Environment</strong></p>
<p>Affordable health care is essential to ensure a high quality of life. We also know the environment is playing an increasingly important role in the health and well-being of our communities. However, for too many Washingtonians, including people of color, access to care and a healthy environment are not easy to come by.&nbsp;</p>
<p>While great strides have been made to improve access to affordable health care in recent years, legislators have more work to do to ensure that all communities in Washington state can get the care they need.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Further, communities of color are often the first and worst hit by the effects of pollution. Lawmakers should adopt policies that enable Washingtonians to live in a healthy environment that promotes good health.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="discreet">(select image to enlarge)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet"><a title="Equity_health_final" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/equity_budget_health03.jpg"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/equity_budget_health03.jpg/image_preview" alt="Equity_health_final" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Revenue<br /></strong>In order for our state to thrive, we need a revenue system that asks everyone to pay their fair share, that is stable, and that provides enough resources to make the investments we need to build a better future. However, our revenue system currently relies disproportionately on residents with lower incomes. Because communities of color are more likely to be among the poorest fifth of Washingtonians, this also means they are more likely to pay the highest portion of their income in state and local taxes – 17 percent. Meanwhile, the wealthiest fifth of Washingtonians pay only 2 percent of their income in state and local taxes. What’s more, people with low incomes, including many people of color, are more likely to feel the pain of budget cuts that are a result of that broken system.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="discreet">(select image to enlarge)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;" class="discreet"><a title="Equity_rev_final" class="internal-link" href="/schmudget/equity_budget_rev05.jpg"><img class="image-inline image-inline" src="/schmudget/equity_budget_rev05.jpg/image_preview" alt="Equity_rev_final" /></a></p>
<p>We know that people of color in Washington state are challenged by a system that limits their access to equal opportunities, but this doesn’t have to be the story. There is still time during special session for lawmakers to make 2015 a year of great progress toward this goal, and they should seize it. Taking these steps today would lead to a better Washington tomorrow. It would allow us to become a place where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.</p>
<p><em>To learn more about how communities of color are faring in Washington state, see the full <strong><a class="external-link" href="../reports/Facing%20Race%20Web%20v2.pdf">Facing Race</a></strong> report – which was released by a coalition of over 50 organizations. It includes a range of additional policy recommendations for how state lawmakers can advance racial equity. For additional such recommendations, read our other recent reports: <a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/progress-index"><strong>The Progress Index</strong></a> and <a class="external-link" href="creating-an-equitable-future-for-black-washingtonians"><strong>Creating an Equitable Future: Black Well-Being 2015 &amp; Beyond</strong></a>.&nbsp;</em></p>
<p class="discreet"><em>The Budget &amp; Policy Center staff would like to thank Emijah Smith, Community Organizer with Children's Alliance, and Sharonne Navas, Executive Director of the Equity in Education Coalition, for their assistance with this post.</em></p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
No publisherElena HernandezState BudgetEquity2015-05-13T21:33:19ZBlog EntryCreating an Equitable Future for Black Washingtonianshttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/creating-an-equitable-future-for-black-washingtonians
<p>Racism and inequality are looming problems in&nbsp;Washington State. They cast a shadow over the lives of many Black people, leading to a lack of economic&nbsp;security, poor health, and high levels of stress. A new study commissioned by an independent&nbsp;coalition seeks to encourage citizens and leaders to address these issues, engage in&nbsp;conversations focused on solutions, and develop policies and laws to help Blacks gain equal&nbsp;footing with other races and ethnicities.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The report, “<a class="external-link" href="http://center-stone.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SOBW_report_r701_Final_032515_LowRes_spreads1.pdf">Creating an Equitable Future for Black Washingtonians,</a>” outlines&nbsp;some of the major ways our social, economic, and political systems in Washington state&nbsp;intertwine to create barriers to opportunity that impede progress within the Black community.</p>
<p><a class="external-link" href="http://center-stone.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SOBW_report_r701_Final_032515_LowRes_spreads1.pdf"><img class="image-left" src="/Black%20Well-Being%20Report%20cover.jpg/image_mini" alt="Black Well-Being Report cover" /></a>The coalition releasing this report is composed of <a class="external-link" href="http://center-stone.org/">Centerstone</a>, the <a class="external-link" href="http://www.caa.wa.gov/">Washington State Commission on&nbsp;African American Affairs</a>, and the <a class="external-link" href="http://aalfnw.org/seattle/">African American Leadership Forum</a>.</p>
<p>The report identifies multiple solutions for improving opportunities for Blacks in our state. These&nbsp;proposals would not only help to improve the well-being of Blacks as individuals and as&nbsp;communities, but they would also serve to strengthen our state’s economic and civic future. Some of these solutions are:</p>
<ul><li>Enable economic policies to ensure that all families in Washington state can meet their&nbsp;basic needs.</li><li>Expand learning opportunities and resources for Black children and families, from early learning through higher education.&nbsp;</li></ul>
<ul><li>Improve state policies and programs to better meet the needs of Black youth to reduce their involvement with the criminal justice system.</li><li>Create community-driven strategies to create a more just and equitable political system.</li><li>Promote policies so that everyone in the Black community has adequate access to health&nbsp;insurance and care.</li></ul>
<p>By working toward these changes, we can strengthen the lives of our residents, enhance the&nbsp;communities in Washington State, and ensure that Blacks have the opportunity to contribute to&nbsp;our state’s economy now and in the future.</p>
<p>This report is the first phase of a longer effort by the coalition to elevate and amplify the voices&nbsp;of Black Washingtonians in the decision-making processes that influence their everyday lives.</p>
<p>The Budget and Policy Center conducted the research and analysis for this report. The research focuses on five key areas of well-being (which correspond directly with some of the key areas highlighted in our new <a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/progress-index">Progress Index</a>) – economic security, education, health, criminal justice, and civic engagement – to highlight conditions in the Black community and contribute to&nbsp;a robust conversation about what an equitable future in Washington State looks like.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a class="external-link" href="http://center-stone.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/SOBW_report_r701_Final_032515_LowRes_spreads1.pdf">View the full report</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p><a class="external-link" href="http://center-stone.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/10-Ways-New-Study-will-Change-Life-for-Blacks-in-Washington_032915.pdf">View the press release</a> about the report.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnState BudgetEquity2016-02-11T22:59:48ZBlog EntryPromoting Racial Equity for Kids and Families http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/new-tool-to-advance-racial-equity-in-policymaking
<p>To build a great future for kids and families, we need public policies that provide all children with the opportunities they need to succeed. Our public policies&nbsp;– the laws, budgets, rules, and other decisions of elected representatives and engaged Washingtonians&nbsp;<font face="Calibri, sans-serif">– </font>can either advance those opportunities or place obstacles in front of kids.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Racial equity assessment tools can shape our public choices so that they enhance every child’s access to opportunity. KIDS COUNT in WA, a partnership between the Budget &amp; Policy Center and Children’s Alliance, has produced an online assessment tool that allows policymakers and members of the public to ask questions about the effect of a proposed policy on closing the opportunity gap.</p>
<p><a class="external-link" href="http://kidscountwa.org/racial-equity-tool/">The new Racial Equity Policy Tool</a> is a questionnaire designed to help users consider issues like:</p>
<ul><li>How will the proposal address the opportunity gap that exists for children of color and children in low-income households?</li><li>Has the proposal been developed in consultation with members of our state’s diverse communities?</li><li>Once enacted, how will we measure the proposal’s effects?</li></ul>
<p>The tool builds off of previous, similar assessment guides and tools issued by other organizations and government entities, from the Annie E. Casey Foundation to King County. (Links to these guides can be found on the Racial Equity Policy Tool webpage.) It is intended to help refine the ability of engaged Washingtonians to create equal opportunities for kids.&nbsp;</p>
<p>All babies born into this world will one day dream of what they want their future to be like. It is the job of all adults&nbsp;– parents, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, and lawmakers&nbsp;– to provide children with the opportunities they need to realize a future of unleashed potential.&nbsp;</p>
<p>We ask that you use and share the tool. <a class="external-link" href="http://kidscountwa.org/racial-equity-tool/">Access it here</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnKids CountEquity2015-03-31T18:35:21ZBlog EntryWashington State Lagging in Key Measures of Progresshttp://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/progress-index-release
<h3>Progress Index spotlights need for greater investment in schools, health care, and other foundations of a thriving economy</h3>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<p>The foundations required for a strong economy in Washington state are cracking. On more than half of almost 100 measures of progress – from employment opportunities for our residents to the education of future generations – we are stalled or going backward. If our state is to reverse this trend, our government must invest more widely in the programs and services that promote a thriving economy and shared prosperity among all our residents. Those are the primary findings of our newly released <a class="external-link" href="../policy-areas/progress-index/Progress%20Index%202015.pdf">Progress Index</a>.</p>
<p><a title="Progress Index 2015.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/Progress%20Index%202015.pdf"><img class="image-left" src="/Figure%201%20for%20e-blast.png/image_preview" alt="PI Figure 1 for blog" /></a>The Index shows how budget and policy decisions impact the lives and well-being of Washingtonians – decisions that will be highlighted as the state House and Senate release their proposed budgets in the coming weeks.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Index further shows that our state’s funding priorities have gotten out of whack in recent decades, largely because of a broken revenue system and significant cuts to essential public programs and services. Since 2008, state investments have fallen in several critical areas, including:</p>
<ul><li><strong>Education </strong>– <em>Spending on education has declined by 14 percent ($1.3 billion)</em> and has affected the entire education system – from early learning through higher education. Throughout this time, there has been stalled progress on preparedness for kindergarten and preschool enrollment; a persistent achievement gap for students of color that’s evident by the third grade; and the second-largest tuition increase in the nation at four-year colleges.</li><li><strong>Economic security</strong> – <em>Spending on programs that help Washingtonians meet basic needs has declined by 58 percent ($281 million)</em>. During the same time period, the share of people who do not have enough income to adequately provide for their families has risen to nearly one-third of all Washingtonians. And an increased number of school children have become homeless.</li></ul>
<p><a title="Progress Index 2015.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/Progress%20Index%202015.pdf"><img class="image-left" src="/Figure%202%20for%20e-blast.png/image_preview" alt="PI Figure 2 for blog" /></a>These cuts hurt all Washingtonians, and especially people of color, who do not have equal access to opportunity. Their measures of progress in many critical areas trail those of their peers, which is detrimental to our collective future.</p>
<p>Yet there are areas, like our increased use of renewable energy and the uptick in people earning community college degrees, where our state is making steady improvement – and it can continue to do so if we invest wisely. The Progress Index offers many strategies that policymakers can adopt to ensure that they are supporting overall progress in our state. These strategies include: expanding successful programs like the State Need Grant and College Bound Scholarship program; adopting the proposed cap-and-trade system to reduce pollution and increase revenue; and requiring companies that receive tax breaks to meet minimum standards for state job creation.</p>
<p>The extensive data and analysis presented in the Progress Index can be used to inform policymakers’ decisions as they craft the budget. The Index can also shape initiatives to help communities secure the resources they need to thrive. Ultimately, it can be a map of where we are as a state and it can help us understand how our state budget can better support the well-being of our families, children, businesses, and communities.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The goal? For Washington state to be a place where progress is a given for every single one of us.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Progress Index 2015.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/Progress%20Index%202015.pdf"><img class="image-left" src="/Progress%20Index%20Web%20Thumbs-02.png/image_preview" alt="PI cover thumbnail" /></a></strong></p>
<p><strong><br />Read the full <a title="Progress Index 2015.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/Progress%20Index%202015.pdf">Progress Index</a>: &nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong>Read the individual sections from the index: <br />1.&nbsp;</strong><strong><a title="PI Economic Security.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/PI%20Economic%20Security.pdf">Economic security</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;2.&nbsp;</strong><strong><a title="PI Education.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/PI%20Education.pdf">Education </a><br />3.&nbsp;</strong><strong><a title="PI Healthy People - Envir.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/PI%20Healthy%20People%20-%20Envir.pdf">Healthy people &amp; environment</a>&nbsp; <br />4. <a title="PI Com Dev - Trust.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/PI%20Com%20Dev%20-%20Trust.pdf">Community development &amp; trust</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /></strong><strong>5.&nbsp;<a title="PI Good Jobs.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/PI%20Good%20Jobs.pdf">Good jobs</a>&nbsp;</strong><strong>6. <a title="PI Revenue.pdf" class="internal-link" href="/policy-areas/progress-index/PI%20Revenue.pdf">Revenue</a></strong></p>
<p><em>In the coming weeks, the Budget &amp; Policy Center will also release a series of schmudget blog posts highlighting and analyzing the findings from each section of the Progress Index.</em>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Media contacts:&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>•<a class="external-link" href="mailto:leigh@teamsoapbox.com"><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>Leigh Sims</a>, Team Soapbox Communications, 206-528-2550, ext. 7</p>
<p>•<span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><a class="external-link" href="mailto:melinday@budgetandpolicy.org">Melinda Young-Flynn</a>, Washington State Budget &amp; Policy Center, 206-262-0973, ext. 223</p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
No publisherMelinda Young-FlynnProgress IndexState RevenueIncome InequalityEnvironmentHealth CarePovertyEconomic SecurityEquityState BudgetEducationState Economy2016-06-30T16:42:18ZBlog Entry